Window frame construction



1956 A. w. ANDERBERG ET AL 2,766,490

WINDOW FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed March 10. 1953 2W INVENTOR. BYMM CZ 1 V?14770 NEYS.

United States Patent WINDOW FRAME CONSTRUCTION Axel W. Anderberg, LosAngeles, and Wilbur F. Blakemore, Beverly Hills, Calif, assignors to A.W. Anderberg Manufacturing Co., Los Angeles, Calif, a cor- The presentinvention relates generally to improvements in the design andconstruction ofwindow frames; and more especially to frames for slidingsash having a spring-type balance incorporated in the window frame inorder to balance the weight of each individual sash. The invention isalso particularly concerned with improvements in the design andconstruction of the parting bead for the window frame.

It is conventional parctice to place a spring-type sash balance in thejamb of a window frame in order to balance the weight of the twovertically sliding sashes, windows of this type being commonly referredto as double hung. The sash balance is ordinarily set into the jamb byproviding the jamb with a recess of suitable size to receive the balancewith the surface of the face plate on the sash balance substantiallyflush with the exposed inside surface of the window frame. This permitseach sash to slide up and down within the frame and pass over the sashbalance with a relatively close fit. In the ordinary double-hung windowthere are two sashes within the frame; and these are guided at one sideby a vertical parting head which is a narrow strip of wood mounted onthe jamb of the frame, usually by being set into a groove in the jamb.On the side jambs of the frame this parting bead lies between the twosashes; it forms the inside guiding surface for the outer sash and theoutside guiding surface of the inner sash. In conventional practice, theparting head is continuous from the top to the bottom of the frame andis notched or cut away to a reduced height where it passes over the sashbalance. The parting head is often. broken in the process of notching itbecause of the reduction in cross section. Unless the grain of the woodlies in a direction that is favorable to notching, a wood parting beadis frequently broken and is consequently discarded, since, as mentionedabove, it is the usual practice to make the parting head a singlecontinuous member throughout its length.

A considerable amount of time is required for a workman to properlynotch a parting bead for this purpose, although the operation isessentially a simple one. If the job is not carefully done it may haveto be done over again because of excessive clearance between the beadand the sash balance through which air can pass; and even with theexercise of care in fitting and cutting, it is not always possible toeliminate completely such air leakage. For this reason it has not beenpractical to Weatherstrip double hung windows using a spring-type sashbalance; and therefore the use of this balance is looked upon withdisfavor in colder climates where Weatherstripping of the windows isdesired.

Another marked disadvantage of the conventional construction is foundwhen it becomes necessary to remove a sash balance from the window framefor any reason, as for example, When a spring breaks and a new unit isrequired as a replacement for the old one. Because the parting strip inthe conventional construction is continuous and passes over thesashbalance, it is necesf k, 2,766,490 C6 Patented Oct. 16, 1956 2 6 sary toremove the parting strip' from the window frame as a preliminary step toremoving the sash balance. In turn, this canbe accomplished only byfirst removing the trim" molding inside the frame and then taking theinner sash out of the frame. Even though this may not be a particularlydifficult operation, yet it requires considerable care and time toremove the molding from the window without irreparably scarring anddamaging the frame; and even with the greatest of care, it is usuallynecessary to repaint the entire window frame and trim in order to removesigns of the repair work.

Thus it is a general object of our invention to modify the conventionaltype of parting bead in a Window frame for double hung sash to eliminatetime and labor spent in fitting the bead over a sash balance and to makefor easier removal of the head to the extent necessary to permit removalof the balance from the window frame.

It is also an object of our invention to provide a novel construction ofa window frame having a spring-type sash balance in the jamb and aparting bead extending across the sash balance such that the partingbead can be removed to permit removal of the sash balance Withoutrequiring removal of either sash from the frame.

It is also an object of our invention to provide a novel construction ofa window frame and parting bead such that there is no air leakage aroundthe parting bead where it passes over a sash balance, thus simplifyingthe problem of Weatherstripping the sliding sash in the frame.

These and other objects of our invention have been attained in a windowframe having a recess in the jamb and a spring-type sash balance setinto the recess by dividing the parting bead into three separate pieces.An upper parting bead is mounted on the jamb above the recess and thesash balance; a lower parting head is mounted on the jamb below therecess and the sash balance; and an intermediate parting bead spans therecess and the sash balance. This intermediate parting bead is removablyattached to the jamb at positions above and below the recess and is heldby the jamb in alignment with the upper and lower lengths of partingbead to form a substantially continuous bead throughout the height ofthe window jamb. 7

The jamb of the window frame is ordinarily provided with a groove in theexposed inside face of the jamb which receives the upper and lowerparting beads. The ends of the intermediate parting beads are providedwith means engaging this groove in order to align the intermediatesection with the parting beads above and below. This aligning meansordinarily takes the form of a lug or projection at each end of theintermediate section which is received within the groove, the centralportion of the intermediate parting bead being, in effect, cut away atthe underside so that it may rest against the sash balance at this cutaway portion without projecting farther outwardly beyond the jamb thanthe sections of parting bead above and below.

We show and describe the sash balance as being set into the verticalside member of the window and the subdivided parting bead as beingapplied to this same side member of the frame, because this is the usualconstruction or relationship of these parts. However we are notnecessarily limited to this position of the sash balance as balances maybe placed in the horizontal head member, often termed the head jamb ofthe window frame. In this case, the head jamb also carries a similarparting bead which extends across the fullwidth of the frame and liesagainst the inside of the upper sash. Our invention may also be usedwhen the sash balance is in the head above the sash. Consequently theterm jamb as used herein is used in a generic sense to refer to eitherthe side jamb or head jamb of a window frame.

How the above objects and advantages of our invention, as well as othersnot particularly mentioned herein, are attained will be betterunderstood by reference to the following description and to the annexeddrawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section through theside jamb of a window frame, showing a frame and parting beadconstructed according to our invention, a corner of each of the upperand lower sashes being included in the drawing;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the jamb of the window frame andthe sash balance in the jamb, as viewed from the right of Fig. 1 withthe sashes removed;

Fig. 3 is a vertical fragmentary section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the intermediatesection of the parting bead that spans the sash balance;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective of the upper end of the intermediatesection of parting bead shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective similar to Fig. 4 showing a variational form ofintermediate section of parting bead;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper end of the partingbead of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a top end view of a sash balance with the intermediate sectionof the parting bead in cross-section showing a layer of sealing materialbetween the parting bead and the face plate of the sash balance.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. l the side jamb ofa window frame indicated generally at 10. It is the usual practice tocut in the side jamb a rectangular opening or recess 12 which is open tothe exposed face 13 of the jamb and receives the spring-type sashbalance indicated generally at 14. The sash balance is about the samethickness as the jamb and substantially fills recess 12. Sash balance 14is mounted with its face plate 15 substantially flush with the exposedinside face 13 of jamb over which the sashes slide. As may be seen fromFig. 1, face plate extends for a short distance above and below recess12 where it overlaps the window jamb. The sash balance may be fastenedin place by any suitable means, as for example by nails 16 driventhrough the overlapping portion of the face plate and into the windowjamb.

The details of construction of the sash balance are in no -waylimitative upon the present invention. The sash balance shown here isdescribed more fully in the copending application of Axel W. Anderberg,Ser. No. 196,320, filed November 17, 1950 and which became Patent No.2,644,193 on July 7, 1953 on Spring Sash Balance to which reference maybe made for further details of its construction. In general, the sashbalance is shown in Fig. 3 as including a pair of drums 18 each of whichis rotatably mounted upon a fixed internal hub 19. Inside each drum is aspiral spring, not shown in the drawings, which connects the rotatingdrum to th fixed hub and tends to rotate the drum about the hub in agiven direction. Wound around the outside of each drum 18 is a cable 29,the free end of which extends out of and below the sash balance as shownin Fig. 2. The lower end of each cable 20 is connected to one sash inany suitable way, as by a metal angle clip 22 which is firmly secured tothe end of the cable. In Fig. l, a clip 22 is shown fastened in place tothe lower corner of upper sash 23. A similar clip, not shown in thedrawings, is attached to the other cable 20 and fastened to the lowercorner of lower sash 24. It will be seen from Fig. 1 that the two cables20 extend downwardly from the sash balance between the face of jamb 10and the sash to which they are each connected, there being suflicientclearance between the sashes and the jamb for this purpose. The twodrums of the sash balance are enclosed by a housing or cover 25 which issecured to face plate 15 in any suitable manner. I

lamb 10 has in its exposed face 13 a longitudinally extending groove 26which extends for the full height of the jamb. In the side jamb asherein illustrated in fig. 1, groove 26 is normally vertical. Thepurpose of this groove is to receive and hold the parting head which, inthe conventional construction, is a continuous member. According to ourinvention there is in groove 26 an upper parting bead 28 that extendsupwardly from a point a short distance above the sash balance to theupper end jamb 10. There is a similar lower parting bead 2ft whichextends downwardly from a point a short distance below the sash balanceto the bottom of the jamb, the lower parting bead also being in groove26. It is evident from Fig. 1 that groove 26 is interrupted by recess 12an "h balance 14, which are normally located near or a s distance abovethe mid-point of the groove. To span recess 12 and the sash balance init there is provided intermediate parting bead 30 which is physicallyseparate from either the upper or lower parting bead. As will bedescribed in greater detail, intermediate parting head 52 is detachablyfastened to jamb 10 at positions above anal below recess 12 and sashbalance 14 in a manner to hold it in alignment with the upper and lowerparting beads in order to form with them a substantially continuousparting bead for the full height of jamb it).

A preferred embodiment of the intermediate parting bead 30 is shown inFig. 4. This intermediate parting bead is a hollow member formed fromsheet metal bent to a generally U-shape in cross section. The transversedimensions .of parting bead 30 are designed to conform as closely aspossible to the corresponding transverse dimensions of upper and lowerparting beads 25 and 29 in order to provide in effect a continuous guidemember with smooth sides against which the sashes may slide. Otherwise,the exact shape of the intermediate parting bead is immaterial. In eachof several large areas in this country, parting beads are almostentirely of one size and shape. As between these various areas, however,these may be an appreciable variation in the dimensions of the partingbead which has become a standard in any one area. Consequently, nosingle size nor shape is contemplated for the intermediate parting beadsince it is made to conform to the standard conventional parting beadabove and below it.

Intermediate parting bead 30 is provided at each end with means forengaging the jamb of the window frame to establish and maintain the beadin the desired alignment with the bead above and below it. Such means ishere shown as taking the form of two small lugs or projections 31 ateach end of the parting bead. Projections 31 are designed to enter intogroove 26, as may be seen in Figs. 1 and 3, and by engaging the sides ofthese grooves to align the intermediate parting bead with the upper andlower parting beads. The length of the projections or the overall widthof parting head 30 depends upon the corresponding width of the partingbeads 28 and 29 as the intermediate bead preferably projects outwardlybeyond the jamb the same distance as upper and lower beads 28 and 29.

With respect to projections 31 at each end of the intermediate partingbead 30, the central portion of the bead between these projections isrecessed or cut back, reducing the net width of the bead. The edgesurfaces 32 of the bead at this central recessed portion are preferablystraight so that they can lie against and engage the exposed surface offace plate 15. In order to provide contact throughout the length of thesash balance, face plate 15 is preferably formed so that it has asubstantially planar zone extending for the full length of the sashbalance and located centrally of the balance in a position to bedirectly beneath parting bead 30. This planar zone may be wider thanshown, but it has a width at least equal to the width of parting head30. The length of intermediate parting bead 30 is such that projections31 enter groove 26 at locations immediately above and below the sashbalance. The intermediate parting bead spans the entire sash balance andrecess 12 in which the balance is located, and may be attached to thejamb by any suitable means. It is here shown as being fastened in placeby nails 33 located one near each end of the parting head so that thereis one above and below the sash balance. Obviously, other fasteningmeans such as screws or the like may be used. To facilitate the use ofsuch fastening means, intermediate bead 30 is preferably provided ateach end with a preformed hole 34, as shown in Fig. 5, to receive a nailor other similar fastening means.

For many installations, the fit between straight edges 32 of theintermediate parting bead and the exposed surface of face plate 15,especially when the latter is provided with a planar zone, issufficiently close to prevent objectionable leakage of air between theparting bead and the face plate. However, if it is desired to eliminateall leakage at this point, weather stripping means, such as a thinsealing layer 36, shown in Fig. 8, may be inserted between'the faceplate and the parting bead. This layer of sealing material may be of anysuitable material, for example felt, suitably treated paper, or thelike. This weather stripping may be separate or attached to the faceplate or the parting bead, and if the latter, may be considered to be apart of the plate or bead.

A variational form of intermediate parting bead is illustrated in Figs.6 and 7. In this embodiment, parting bead 40 is a solid member providedat each end with a single solid projecting block 41 which is adapted toenter into groove 26 in the window frame for purposes as described. Overthe central portion of the parting bead between these two terminalprojections, the parting bead has a flat undersurface 42 which isadapted to engage the outer surface of face plate 15 of the sashbalance. It is preferable that the intermediate parting bead be providednear each end with a preformed hole 44 adapted to receive a nail or ascrew or other fastening means by which the intermediate parting bead isfastened to window jamb 10 above and below the sash balance. Except forthe fact that this type of member is solid, rather than hollow as shownin Figs. 4 and 5, the external shape and various dimensions areunchanged from the above description. This intermediate parting bead maybe made of any suitable material. For example, it may be molded from asuitable synthetic resin or plastic or may be pre-cut from wood.

A window frame construction according to our novel design has severaladvantages. It is easier and quicker to install the sliding sash sincethe operation of notching the parting head is entirely eliminated andthere is no problem of cutting and fitting when intermediate partingbeads as shown in Figs. 4 or 6 are preformed. There is no problem of airleakage since air passing the intermediate parting bead may bepractically eliminated by the use of a weather stripping layer as shownin Fig. 8.

One of the chief advantages of our improved construction is the easewith which a sash balance 14 can be removed from the frame for anydesired purpose. The upper end of the intermediate parting bead isnormally exposed so that the nail holding it in place can easily beremoved; and by manipulating the sash the lower end may be madeaccessible for the removal of the nail at that end. With the fasteningmeans taken out, the intermediate parting bead can be withdrawn fromgroove 26. Then by removing nails 16, the sash balance is unfastenedfrom the jamb of the window frame. By tilting the upper end of the sashbalance forwardly or inwardly of the frame and then lifting it up toremove the lower end from between the jamb and the sash, the sashbalance may be removed easily and completely from recess 12. There isordinarily enough clearance between each sash and the jamb to removeeach cable 22 by pulling it forwardly from between the jamb and thesash. If desired, in order to facilitate removal of these cables fromthe inside of the window, the lower sash may be raised as far as it willgo and the lower parting bead 29 removed 6 from groove 26. This makes iteasier to pull cables 20 out from between each sash and the jamb or toreplace them as the case may be.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that there may be variations ofour invention thought of by persons skilled in the art yet which arewithin the spirit and scope of our invention. Consequently, the abovedescription is considered as being illustrative of, rather thanlimitative upon, the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a window frame for sliding sash having a recess in a jamb adaptedto receive a spring-type sash balance set into the recess with itsexposed surface substantially flush with the exposed surface of thejamb, the combination comprising: an upper parting bead extendingupwardly from adjacent the sash balance and mounted on the jamb; a lowerparting bead extending downwardly from. adjacent the sash balance andmounted on the jamb, the spacing between the upper and lower partingbeads being greater than the corresponding dimension of the sashbalance; a separate intermediate parting bead spanning the recess andthe sash balance to fill the gap between the upper and lower partingbeads, said intermediate parting bead being in alignment with the upperand lower parting beads to form therewith, a substantially continuousparting bead structure; and means attaching said intermediate section tothe jamb at positions above and below the recess in the jamb.

2. A window frame as in claim 1 in which the centnal portion of theintermediate parting bead is cut away at the under side to substantiallythe level of the surface of the jamb to engage the surface of the sashbalance.

3. In a window frame for sliding sash having in one jamb a recess forreceiving a sash balance and a groove extending longitudinally of thesash upwardly and downwardly from opposite sides of the recess, thecombination comprising: an upper parting bead mounted on the jamb in thegroove above the recess; a lower parting bead mounted on the jamb in thegroove below the recess; a separate intermediate parting bead at therecess and in alinement with the upper and lower beads to form therewitha substantially continuous parting bead structure; and fastening meansattached to the intermediate section at positions above and below therecess.

4. A Window frame as in claim 3 in which the intermediate parting beadis provided at each end at positions beyond the sash balance with meansfitting into the groove in the jamb to attach the parting bead theretoand to maintain the desired alinement of the intermediate parting bead.

5. A window frame as in claim 3 in which the central portion of theintermediate parting bead has on the under side recessed surfacesadapted to engage the sash balance over a planar zone for substantiallythe full length of the sash balance. 1

6. A window frame as in claim 3 in which the intermediate parting beadis a hollow metal member of generally U-shaped cross section having ateach end projecting portions adapted to fit into the groove in the jambto establish and maintain the desired alinement of the intermediateparting bead.

7. A window frame as in claim 3 which also includes: a layer of sealingmaterial between the intermediate. parting bead and the sash balance.

8. In a window frame for sliding sash having a recess. in one jambadapted to receive a spring-type sash balance set into the recess, saidjamb also having a groove ex-- tending upwardly from one side of therecess and down-- wardly from the opposite side of the recess, thecombination comprising: an upper parting bead mounted our the jamb inthe groove and extending upwardly from ad-- jacent the sash balance; alower parting bead mounted on the jamb in the groove and extendingdownwardly from adjacent the sash balance; closure means spanning;

the sash balance in engagement with the exposed surface of the sashbalance and substantially filling the space between the ends .of theupper .and lower parting beads; and fastening means attached to theclosure means at positions adjacent the ends of the closure means tohold the closure means in substantial continuation of and in alinementwith the upper and lower parting heads.

9. A sash balance and parting bead construction for mounting on a windowframe having a recess and a groove above and below the recess forreceiving sections of a parting bead, comprising: a spring-type sashbalance adapted to be set into said recess in the window frame with theexposed outer surface of the balance substantially flush with theexposed outer surface of the frame; and an intermediate section ofparting bead having a relatively narrow, elongated body provided at eachend with a laterally projecting portion adapted to fit within saidgroove in the window frame at positions above and below the sashbalance, the projecting portions being spaced apart at least a distanceequal to the corresponding dimension of the sash balance, theintermediate section of parting bead being of such dimensions as to forma substantial continuation of the sections of parting bead in the grooveabove and below the sash balance when the underside of the intermediatesection of parting bead is closely adjacent said outer exposed surfaceof the balance.

10. The sash balance and parting bead construction as in claim 9 inwhich the intermediate section of parting bead is a hollow, sheet metalmember of U-shaped crosssection.

ll. As an article of manufacture, an intermediate section of partingbead for use in a window frame having a recess for receiving aspring-type sash balance set into the frame with its exposed outer facesubstantially flush with the exposed outer face of the frame, said framehaving a groove above and below the recess to receive other sections ofparting bead, comprising: a relatively narrow elongated body provided ateach end with a laterally projecting portion adapted to fit within saidgroove in the window frame, the projections being spaced apartlongitudinally of the intermediate section at least a distance equal tothe corresponding length of the sash balance, the intermediate sectionof parting bead being of such external dimensions as to form substantialcontinuations of parting bead sections in the groove above and below thesash balance.

12. As an article of manufacture, an intermediate section of partingbead for use in a window frame having a recess for receiving aspring-type sash balance set into the frame with its exposed outer facesubstantially flush with the exposed outer face of the frame, said framehaving a groove above and below the recess to receive other sections ofparting bead, comprising: a relatively narrow elongated body provided ateach end with a laterally projecting portion adapted to fit within saidgroove in the window frame, the projections being spaced apartlongitudinally of the intermediate section at least a distance equal tothe corresponding length of the sash balance, the intermediate sectionof parting bead being of such external dimensions as to form substantialcontinuations of parting bead sections in the groove above and below thesash balance, the intermediate section of parting bead being a hollowsheet metal member of U- shaped cross-section.

Marshall June 10, 1941 Jessup Dec. 8, 1942

